What To Wear To Universal Studios Hollywood (By Annual Passholders)
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Being annual passholders we have the pleasure of visiting Universal Studios Hollywood multiple times a year. As such we have our park outfits down to a tee and are more than happy to share what works for us based on a lot of experience.
We’ve visited during the rain of January, or the summer heat of July. We’ve also travelled with and without kids, so we know the extras you’ll want to consider bringing too.
Things To Consider When Deciding What To Wear To Universal Studios
When planning what you’re going to wear to the Universal Studios Hollywood theme park you’ll want to consider a couple of things;
- Weather
- Comfort
- Universal dress code policy
If you’re visiting the parks during the off-season of January and February for example, then the mornings and evenings can be a little cooler. Subsequently, you’ll likely want to wear a light jacket to keep warm.
Meanwhile, during the height of summer, you’ll likely want to trade in the long trousers or jeans for a pair of lightweight shorts instead.
There are no dedicated water rides at Universal Studios Hollywood, although you may get a little wet on Jurassic Park: The Ride. As such we don’t feel that adults will need to bring a change of clothing.
Kids however are no doubt going to be drawn to the splash pad at Super Silly Fun Land during the height of summer, so we would recommend packing a change of clothes for them.
Universal Studios Dress Code
There is no specific dress code for Universal Studios Hollywood. Instead, as long as you are wearing clothing that is appropriate for a family-friendly environment, you should be fine.
This makes wearing the likes of muscle tees, tank tops, crop tops, and shorts, all perfectly fine while any items with offensive logos or slogans may cause an issue.
Universal Studios also has a costume policy for the health and safety of all guests. This includes no costume masks, veils, long trains, live animals, swords or weaponry however, face coverings worn for medical or health reasons are permitted.
Costumes cannot exceed 28” wide x 80” high to meet Universal Studios Hollywood’s metal detection regulations and costumes are subject to secondary x-ray screening.
Costumed guests may not give the impression that they are Universal Team Members while those wishing to bring a home-crafted wand must ensure it is rounded on either end and must be appropriate in nature.
Guests found to be wearing a costume / outfit that is not deemed permissible will be asked to either remove the costume and change into something more appropriate, or exit the park.
Universal Studios will have sole discretion to decide whether an item is permissible. Any item deemed inappropriate will be turned over by the owner and may be retrieved at the end of the day at the Universal CityWalk hub.
What To Wear To Universal Studios
The key to an epic Universal Studios outfit is to combine comfort with style. You’ll be walking upwards of 10,000 steps during your day at the theme park, often in extreme heat and humidity.
However, you’ll also no doubt be taking some incredible photos to remember your time inside the parks so you’ll want to make sure you are happy with how your outfit looks.
Shorts & Skirts
When visiting Universal Studios in the summer months our go-to item is a good pair of shorts. We like a pair that’s got good pockets (ideally with zips) so we can store a bank card and our mobile phone in them safely and access them quickly as and when required.
While denim shorts are an option, they aren’t ideal if you get caught in the rain or go on a water ride since they take a long time to dry. Instead, we look for a pair made of cotton, ideally with some stretch in the waist (for when we’ve had one Butterbeer too many).
🧍♂️Best Choice For Men: These Wrangler Classic Cargo Shorts are ideal for men and come in a range of colours.
🧍♀️Best Choice For Women: These lightweight casual drawstring shorts are perfect for women.
Trousers & Leggings
If you don’t enjoy wearing shorts or a skirt, or are simply visiting the Universal parks during the winter months then consider trousers or leggings as an alternative.
Depending on the daytime temperatures you’ll want to consider either a lightweight loose fabric such as linen, or something slightly thicker such as denim or joggers. Helen loves wearing leggings to the Universal Studios parks on slightly cooler days – especially ones with pockets!
🧍♂️Best Choice For Men: These affordable athletic fit pants are ideal for men and come in a range of colours.
🧍♀️Best Choice For Women: These high-waisted leggings with pockets are perfect for a casual and semi-casual look.
Dresses, Jumpsuits & Playsuits
Dresses, jumpsuits and playsuits are a great alternative to the t-shirt and short combo for women. However, you’ll want to be conscious when going on rides and ensure that you reapply sunblock if you choose an item that exposes your shoulders.
🧍♀️Best Choice For Women: This casual crewneck one-piece provides shoulder coverage, comes in a range of colours and has pockets!
T-Shirts
We personally choose t-shirts over vests when visiting Universal Studios for extra protection for our shoulders in the sun. Thankfully t-shirts come in a wide range of styles and sizes to suit everyone including those who want to dress in Universal Studios inspired t-shirts, and those who are happy with more of a neutral look.
Personally, we love wearing Universal-inspired t-shirts including references to Harry Potter, Jurassic Park and Minions. Themed t-shirts can be purchased online in advance (the cheaper option) or as a souvenir inside the Universal parks.
🧍♂️Best Choice For Harry Potter Fans: Helen adored wearing this Herbology t-shirt on our most recent trip. Meanwhile, I rocked this Quidditch-inspired option.
🧍♀️Best Choice For Jurassic Park Fans: I loved this classic Jurassic Park logo t-shirt that comes in a range of colours.
Jackets & Cardigans
Visiting during the winter months can be great, as this is when Universal Studios Hollywood is the least crowded. However, these months can also be incredibly cold, which as a result means you’ll likely want to wear a jacket, and potentially bring a hat and scarf.
We recently visited Universal Studios Hollywood in January and were so grateful that we packed a woolly hat as it meant we didn’t have to use our money for Universal Studios Hollywood to buy one.
You are welcome to wear either an official Universal Studios Hogwarts robe or a third-party Hogwarts robe to Universal Studios Hollywood provided that the third-party one meets the dress code requirements outlined above.
Meanwhile, if you’re visiting during the shoulder months (March, April, September, and October) then it’s likely you’ll still need a jacket albeit just in the early mornings and in the evening. As such we highly recommend finding a jacket that’s small enough and light enough to be put in a backpack, under a stroller or even in one of the Universal Studios Hollywood lockers.
🧍♂️Best Choice For Men: This affordable Hanes pullover is simple, stylish and comes in a range of colours.
🧍♀️Best Choice For Women: This thin zip-up jacket is ideal for throwing on over your outfit if it gets a little cold.
Footwear
You’ll likely be walking more than 10,000 steps during your day at Universal Studios. As such it’s incredibly important to ensure that you’re in comfortable, supportive footwear. The three most common styles of footwear worn at Universal Studios are;
- Trainers
- Flip Flops
- Sandals / Crocs
We personally find that our flip-flops and sandals begin to rub with so much walking at the parks so instead we save those for around the pool and at the water parks and instead opt for trainers.
🧍♂️Best Choice For Men: These Sketchers classic fit sneakers are both incredibly comfortable and stylish.
🧍♀️Best Choice For Women: These low-rise Converse are super comfortable and come in a range of colours.
Accessories
Some other items you may want to consider either wearing or bringing with you for a day at the Universal Studios park include;
- Sunhat / Baseball cap
- Sunglasses
- Sunblock
- Backpack
These items can help protect you from the sun, and make you feel more comfortable while exploring.
very helpful. love the links to help with ideas for things. thank you